When you think of “provocative headwear,” balaclavas and face masks are probably among the first to spring to mind. Having long sat on the sidelines of seasonal collections with few designers daring to roll them out as a serious in-line accessory, such pieces are set to make a big return this winter. For style wildcards like Bloody Osiris, it’s the only headwear to be seen in.
Exploring a colorful spectrum of balaclavas and face masks, our list is a balance of subtlety and risqué. Brands such as Carhartt WIP, Nike x MMW and Raf Simons fortify the selection with a spate of more wearable options, whereas the likes of Marine Serre and Walter Van Beirendonck have completely done away with convention.
Scroll down below to shop our selection of this year’s best balaclavas and face masks for men, divided between three distinct sections to help you find your ideal style quicker.
The Suitable…
Balaclava
Raf Simons
“Suitable” is a relatively broad adjective here, but it suggests that the entries above have no frills, and were purpose built for doing nothing but protecting your head. These pieces do well to attract little attention and situate themselves on the more acceptable side of daily fashion.
The Rad…
Balaclava Camo
nike x MMW
Slightly more ostentatious than “The Suitable,” these balaclavas and face masks are perfect if you’ve committed to the idea of wearing such an accessory and want to let everyone else know that you’re okay with it, too.
And The Avant-Garde
If you’ve made it this far, you owe it to yourself to marvel at the masks above. Far away from anything a conservative fashion lover would deem wearable, these will forever seal your fate as “that guy” who stepped in looking like a stray wrestler… which is by no means a bad thing.
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